Liberty powers to Oak Lawn crown
The Lake County Liberty, 18U member of the Lake County Fastpitch Softball Association, got its summer off to a great start by repeating as champions of the Oak Lawn Senior Tournament.
The Liberty blasted the perennial powerhouse Orland Park Sparks 11-1 to take the title.
The tournament was the 25th in its history and is the longest running fastpitch tournament in the Chicago area.
With its championship, the Liberty secured a bid to nationals, marking the eighth year in as many years of its existence that the team has earned a berth.
The tournament was the Liberty's first this summer and started with a 4-3 victory over the Lemont Rockers DD.
The Liberty jumped on the Rockers in the first inning, as Aurora-bound Sarah Clauser (Warren) stroked a 2-run single to score Illinois-recruit Alex Booker (Warren) and Jackie Kisman (Crystal Lake Central).
The Rockers, who won the 2008 ASA National Championship, went ahead in the top of the third inning, before the Liberty tied the score in the bottom of the frame with Brittany York (Crystal Lake Central) driving in Kisman. KC Dunne (Buffalo Grove) singled home Booker, who had singled and stole second, with the eventual winning run in the fourth.
Amanda Daly (Johnsburg, University of Dayton) came in to earn the save and preserve the victory for starter Jessica Munda (Zion-Benton).
The Liberty next faced the Chicago Fireworks (Lenti) in bracket play. Allie Micucci (Stevenson) fired a no-hitter to silence the Fireworks, while the Liberty exploded for 6 runs in the third inning en route to their 9-0 win. Kisman paced the offense, going 3-for-3 with 2 stolen bases and 2 runs scored. Dunne chipped in 2 hits and an RBI as did Shannon Lauret (Zion-Benton). Clauser drove in 3 runs, while York and Indiana Purdue University Ft. Wayne recruit Sara Jacobson (Jacobs) each drove in 2.
The Liberty improved to 3-0 by edging the Lemont Rockers JC 2-1.
The Liberty trailed by a run in the fifth inning when York led off with a booming triple to left field. Daly then lifted a long fly to right to score pinch-runner Munda with the tying run. Lauret started the sixth inning for the Liberty with a single. Kisman singled and Dunne was intentionally walked to load the bases. Clauser foiled the strategy, smashing a shot off the second baseman's glove for a walk-off RBI single.
Lauret and Clauser each had 2 hits, while Megan Gier (McHenry) ripped a double and was solid behind the plate. Daly earned the win.
The Outburst from Bloomington-Normal was the Liberty's next foe. Sam Kozenski (Antioch) led the Liberty both on offense and in the circle as she fired a complete game in a 6-4 semifinal win.
While her drop ball kept the hard-hitting Outburst in check, Kozenski helped her own cause with two 2-out RBI singles and drove in three for the game. Micucci, who will play for Trinity International University in the fall, singled, walked, and scored twice for the Liberty. Lauret and York had 2 hits apiece, and Kisman and Dunne each had a hit, an RBI and a stolen base.
The championship game was a battle of two previously unbeaten teams, pitting Lake County against the Orland Park Sparks. The game was decided in quick fashion as the Liberty jumped out to a 3-run lead in the first inning en route to the 10-run win.
Lake County put the game away with an 8-run, 10-hit third inning.
Kisman led the Liberty's 18-hit attack by going 4-for-4. Booker, Dunne, and Lauret (double, triple) each had 3 hits.
AYB basketball tournament openings: There are still some openings left for the American Youth Basketball Tour tournament in the Belvidere area taking place the weekend of July 10-11.
The event is a five-game guarantee for $275 with awards being given out to the winners of each bracket. This boys and girls tournament is based on the grade that the players were in this past school year and the brackets are being held for players in 5th-11th grade.
The schools being used are Belvidere North High School and North Boone High School, both of which are air conditioned and have wood floors. If you are interested, you can register at www.aybtour.com or you can contact tournament director Brian Evans at blb2003@xsite.net or (847) 837-1848.
The deadline for registration Saturday.